Quote (zarkadon @ 18 Mar 2017 23:49)
Well, we have different views on the way we measure the russian and allied actions in Ukraine. I think that's fine and we're both allowed to have our own point of view on the matter. Maybe I'm lacking faith in humanity, but for the most part I think that deterrence is what stops wars and not the legitimacy of a country's actions.
that's not called lacking faith in humanity, that's called being a political realist. then again, i'm pretty sure most realists would agree that invading and annexing a country is worse than winning the illegitimate political influence war in a country - but in and of itself that is not a valid argument, so other than the points i already made as to why i see it that way, it looks like we indeed will have to agree to disagree...
Quote (zarkadon @ 18 Mar 2017 23:49)
Would you disagree with me if I said there is no demand for communism in Europe? Or if I said there is no demand for the governments to bann abortion or to reintroduce death penalty? Obviously you can find thousands of people with those demands, but they aren't a widely significant amount of the population. The fact is that not many people are voting for parties that want a more transparet and modern form of democracy. Would more people vote for them if there was a greater freedom and media indpendence? Probably. But it seems like the majority of russians aren't really interested in having those freedoms. So I say let them be if that's what they wish.
i would say that this is a terrible comparison since communists and capital punishment / abortion ban proponents are free to make their case here. they won't mysteriously disappear, their assets won't be seized, they will not be murdered or harrassed by the government, or arrested and sentenced in mock trials...
i know, this is the point where you fall back to your principle and claim that nobody knows if putin / the kremlin is really behind this, but from my perspective you'll have to agree that it's apples and oranges really...
and what people ACTUALLY vote in russia, despite the state propaganda news, might very well still be a lot more diverse than what official results tell you. i can just reiterate my previous point: do your research, election irregularities in russian elections are extremely common and widespread...